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Another Summer with AYUDA!

Year after year, I have formed such incredible relationships because of AYUDA. I come back each summer to reunite with the special coworkers, campers, and families that AYUDA has enabled me to meet each year that I return. AYUDA has also had such a profound impact on who I am today and what I am choosing to do with my future. Because of the work I have done with AYUDA, I have become even more passionate about working toward a career in global health. Each summer has allowed me to continue to take on new leadership roles, making it so that each year feels just as new and exciting as the one before.

My love for AYUDA, the Dominican Republic, and all of the people involved have only continued to grow over the past four years, and I cannot wait to spend another summer working with such an inspiring group of people.

- Lauren, 2020 AYUDA Volunteer Mentor

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A Positive Change

Heading into the Volunteer Training Program (VTP) Summit in Washington, D.C., I was extremely excited to meet my new peers with whom I would be working over the summer, yet, I didn’t know what to expect. While I had a general idea of what we would be setting out to do over the summer, there was still an immense amount of information to be learned. Arriving in Washington, I was expecting to learn my daily tasks and routine while in the Dominican Republic. To my surprise, even though we briefly reviewed the daily routine, it wasn’t the basis of the Summit. Both myself and my older brother have lived with Type 1 Diabetes for 5 and 12 years, respectively, and yet I was still introduced to knowledge I had never heard of before when attending the Summit. Dr. Nick Cuttriss explained the types of insulin used in the Dominican Republic and how differently diabetes is treated there compared to the United States. This was truly eye-opening, as I was not completely aware that in the Dominican Republic, along with other countries around the world, there is an enormous lack of resources and knowledge to properly treat this condition.

Members from the in-country program, Aprendiendo A Vivir, were also in attendance at the Summit and gave us great insight into the Dominican culture. This introduction included several times where we had to dance, speak Spanish, or present in front of a large group. Although this was a bit uncomfortable, it was a great preview as to what we will encounter while in the Dominican Republic. The Summit was a tremendous bonding experience and opportunity to introduce myself to the other volunteers with whom I will be working. Once the Summit concluded, I was very appreciative that I had the opportunity to be a part of it. I now have a better sense of the culture, the job at hand, and the people with whom I will be working. This has only made me more excited and motivated to effect a positive change in people’s lives.

- Grant

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My First VTP Summit

Going into the Volunteer Training Program (VTP), I was nervous, because I wasn’t sure what to expect. However, after VTP, I was even more excited than before about traveling in country.  Being able to meet everyone who is going to the Dominican Republic (DR) this summer was very exciting and got me so much more excited…for my upcoming travel in country. Something I found extremely valuable was having members of Aprendiendo a Vivir (AAV) present during VTP. Throughout VTP, we were able to learn a lot about the culture in the DR, such as dancing, as well as getting familiar with the language. Each day we started off with more activities helping us to get to know each other better.  This helped us to get to know members of AAV, as well as our own group, that will be present in the DR. One of the most important activities was learning phrases we will be using in the DR in terms of diabetes. We also got to get hands on, practicing and testing each other’s blood glucose levels, as well as practicing the Spanish phrases for administering insulin and testing the blood glucose levels. We were able to create activities for different age groups with which we will be working directly. This helped me to get a feel for what we will be doing in country. Something that was eye-opening to me was learning what those in the DR have access to, such as [different types of] insulin. My feeling post VTP was mostly excitement for what is approaching within the upcoming months. VTP was important regarding fundraising and getting prepared to go in country. Being able to speak to those who live in country and who have been in country before was very helpful.  VTP helped me get to know more about the members with whom I will be attending En El Camino as well as Campo Amigo. VTP made me realize that we all will be changing lives in the DR.

- Marisa

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Campo Amigo 2018

After two outreach visits and two days of Campo Amigo, my heart is full and my energy is spent.  Each day carried its own range of emotions, from frustration to gratitude to admiration to satisfaction.  The campers and their families that attend AAV and AYUDA’s camp are astounding in every way.  Not only do they face the struggle that comes with having Type 1 diabetes in their family, but many of them also have face the affects of poverty as well.  Realizing this made me frustrated: frustrated that I could not fix all of their problems, that I could not pack all of them up and take them home with me.  Then I felt admiration for these families for facing all that they face with such heart and love.  This week has demonstrated the power of AYUDA and AAV- the people who lead these programs and the people that they serve.  All things considered, being a volunteer for AYUDA has been nothing short of magical.

- Anna

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Día de la Familia

My group and I had everything prepared when the campers arrived with their families for Día de la Familia. As we checked blood sugars and gave out breakfast, my heart glowed.  Little girls drew on my friend Melissa while Patrick played basketball with some niños half his size.  I danced and danced with a group of girls I had met 30 seconds before.  I may have been prepared for our activities, but I was not prepared for the impact of the experience: giving a high five to a boy who just scored a goal in fútbol, spinning around and round with a little girl in a red dress, teaching a boy to take pictures with my DSLR camera.  The families that I met showed true resilience.  Each has a child with diabetes and each came to ensure that their children could live happily.  Their smiles were contagious and their energy everlasting.  By the end of the day I was exhausted but incredibly happy, because I got to be a part of making such a magical day possible.

- Anna

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Starting the Journey

For those who don't know me, my name is Anna, and I am a volunteer for the Campo Amigo program in the Dominican Republic this coming summer.

Now that my introduction is out of the way, I'd like to tell you about the priceless experience that was the training VTP Summit.  The VTP Summit was a little training weekend in Washington DC that allowed me a glimpse into what I will be doing in the Dominican Republic this summer.  It was there that I met my fellow volunteers and the Youth Leaders from the DR that help run their diabetes program, Aprendiendo a Vivir.

The weekend was a spectacular mix of learning about Dominican culture, getting to know the fantastic people I will be working with in country, and planning the coming months' fundraising ventures.  There were numerous presentations about how diabetes works and how we will be interacting with the kids in Campo Amigo. 

During the weekend, one thing that struck me was the warm personalities of my fellow volunteers.  People were eager to get to know me, one of the new volunteers to the program, and greeted me with big smiles and open arms. Similarly, the Youth Leaders were super friendly.  I spent the entirety of the first dinner chatting with Veronica and Lisa, two of the Youth Leaders, and learning about their lives in the DR. Veronica is studying to be a doctor, Lisa is a skillful dancer, and both are fabulous ladies that I can't wait to see again this summer!

Overall, the VTP experience gave me a glimpse into the rest of my AYUDA experience.  It's going to be a lot of work and planning, but it is also going to be an amazing experience, a chance to meet some amazing people and inspire the next generation of leaders. And I look forward to sharing my experiences with you.

Until next time,

Anna

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Learning the Ropes: the beginning of my AYUDA experience

I first learned of the work AYUDA was involved with through a family friend who spoke very highly of the organization. After doing some research of my own, I decided to apply to the program because it gave me an opportunity to gain my own experiences with global health, which happens to be one of my minors at my university. After spending more time reading up on AYUDA, I found myself especially relating to AYUDA’s goal of empowering youth to learn to live with diabetes and manage it on their own. I’m a firm believer that building a health education at a young age can lead to a long, healthy life. As soon as I was accepted into the program, I began looking forward to working with the children of the Dominican Republic to help forever impact their lives by helping them learn the proper ways to manage their diabetes through active and educational activities. Heading into the VTP Summit weekend I was a bit anxious to meet my fellow volunteers and really become familiarized with my role in the program. I can say with confidence that after spending a fun and informational weekend in Washington D.C. with my fellow volunteers and the rest of the organization that my excitement for the program this summer has skyrocketed. My favorite part of the weekend was getting to talk to the local partners from the DR who shared just as much excitement and enthusiasm for the summer program as I did. My program, in particular, is the Campo Amigo program based out of the capital of the DR, Santo Domingo. I’m very much looking forward to learning more about the rich culture of the DR and getting an opportunity to work with the local partners of the Dominican Republic to help impact the lives of others forever.

-Patrick Lozier

~Juntos Somos Más Fuertes! Together We Are Stronger!~

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Happy New Year! Friendly reminder that the final application deadline for AYUDA’s 2018 Summer Volunteer Programs is just one month away (February 11th)! • Get your applications in soon - spots are limited! http://www.ayudainc.net/volunteers/application-guide • ¡Juntos somos más fuertes!

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A Two-Sided Assistance

Dear future volunteer or interested donor,

                AYUDA offers one of those experiences that changes your life. Whether you expect it or you fight it, I do not believe it is possible to walk the path AYUDA takes you down and not come out changed. When I returned home I was upset, upset at the anger in our home country. It wasn’t until later that I realized it was because I had seen the light and laughter of the Dominican Republic. While we bring information, education, and companionship, the Dominican Republic offers you something in return: A unique, new outlook on life.

                This may sound like a dramatic proclamation but I have never felt quite so empowered in my life. It is something special to be the cause of a child’s smile and to know you have left them with information that may adequately better their lives. Was it taxing? Yes, but was it worth it? One hundred times over.

                AYUDA was something special for a number of reasons; there is not simply one moment that made it worth it but rather a combination of countless factors. Perhaps the people we worked with were the most influential in my AYUDA stay, both our Campo Amigo kids and my fellow volunteer. To be surrounded by such a driven, compassionate crew made our work in country simply and honestly, fun. It never felt overwhelming or too much when you had such a reliable and loyal support system. There seemed to be a special connection between us all, every single volunteer, as we were brought together by a common goal ( and a shared struggle of finding something other than Mac and Cheese to cook for ourselves at night).

                I predict our Campo Amigo kids taught me just as much as I taught them. As a joint system, through creative and physical activities, we worked to translate diabetes information into the creative language children understand best. From scratch, we worked to identify the necessary information to transfer to the kids in three groups divided by the age groups of the children. Then, AYUDA pushed us to think not just critically but creatively as we worked to develop games, crafts, and competitions that expressed our information but would keep the kids intrigued. Working in Grupo Azul, the middle age bracket, we worked to keep the high energy, and highly competitive, campers interested with water competitions, knowledge testing Jeopardy games, and arts that illustrated everything from a healthy daily diet to what should be carried when you leave the house.

                However, while I do not doubt our campers learned something new, they, alongside the others we encountered in the Dominican Republic as we took hospital and in-home visits, taught me a great lesson as well. I’d like to share with you my greatest takeaway.

                We live in a world of hope and big dreams but it’s easy for desire and want to cloud such things. The people of the Dominican Republic spread wholesome joy and constant smiles despite the environment they are surrounded by. Anger is too heavy to hold onto and instead we should take a page from their guidebook and live with laughter and spread light. Perhaps it’s the extra vitamin D, as a camper told me, but I know I will strive to live as joyfully and as meaningfully as they live every moment.

                And it was the little moments that gave me this outlook. Walking through one of their communities lead by its twenty-two year old leader abuelo during an in-home visit, being invited to sit on the only bed during another, by a young girl whose home consisted of a bedroom, living room, and kitchen, all crowded by our standards. Having a woman ask how my day was going while her little boy lay not three feet away in a hospital bed, prepping for neurosurgery. It was an unheard-of kindness they all exerted while we were in their homes. It was an overflowing kindness they treated us with while their children were the ones suffering. Simply that I could give them anything for their motherly compassion made my venture worth it.

                It was something special to be allowed a slice of their life through AYUDA as well. We were given the opportunity to walk through the homes and villages of campers and AYUDA connections as well as spend a day intimately touring the Santo Domingo hospital. It offered a physical representation and visual comparison between our daily lives and there.

                I have come to the conclusion that if all could have an experience as AYUDA gifted me, our ideals of happiness, hope, and what it means to be great would be completely different. AYUDA allowed me to see how much joy is in the world, and gave me the opportunity to bring more to those who are nothing but deserving. Seeing the effect we were able to have on our Campo Amingo kids through the knowledge and smiles we presented them has been strongly the most empowering time of my life.

I will always and forever be thankful to AYUDA for the lesson it taught me in hope and happiness and for the opportunity it gave me to teach, serve, and spread love in a place of smiles, laughter, and need.

All my love,

Bella Hartley, AYUDA Campo Amigo Volunteer, 2017

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En El Camino Program Recap

My 2017 AYUDA journey in the Dominican Republic is officially over! It has been an incredible experience -- one that I will cherish in my heart forever. Here are some of my experiences from my 15 day trip in En El Camino!

July 29: I flew into the Dominican Republic via Miami at night and got to our hotel at 11PM. We had a quick meeting with the seven volunteers from the United States introducing ourselves and getting to know each other.

July 30: In the morning we had an orientation with Aprendiendo a Vivir (AAV) - our local partner organization - where we got to meet the local leaders that we will be working with for these next two weeks. We then went through a few diabetes presentations explaining the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 and how we need to reference the condition in our outreach programs and in a camp setting. We continued into reviewing protocol with the director of the education program of AAV - Tía Sandra - in case of a hypoglycemic or hyperglycemic event during our outreach program. Finally, we began to prepare our activities for our six outreach programs; I am working in the nutrition group along with one American volunteer and two Dominican volunteers.

July 31: Early in the day we went to the local public children's hospital - Hospital Infantil Dr. RoberReid Cabral. There were hundreds of people crowded into tiny waiting rooms, because this is the only reliable hospital in Santo Domingo (the capital city). Here we met with the Head of Pediatric Endocrinology and then met three children with type one diabetes. The first was a little girl in Ketoacidosis Shock, meaning that her blood glucose was above normal range for too long. Her mother wanted to dose her insulin for her glucose to come down, but she could not afford food for her family and in turn did not give her daughter insulin. Tía Sandra gave the mother some money to buy food for her family and welcomed them into AAV with warm and loving arms. This story hit a lot of us volunteers hard and really put all of us in perspective. It showed us what circumstances we will be working in and how different it is here than in the United States. The second child we met was a 14 year old boy newly diagnosed with type one diabetes - Emmanuel. He was getting released from the hospital that day and we could see just how happy he was. The last child that we met was a young girl named Anna. Her story of diagnosis was incredibly terrifying and traumatizing for her, and she hadn't smiled at all in the hospital before we got there. Tía Sandra, with her warm and loving personality, was able to get her to smile multiple times. To all three of the kids, Tía Sandra introduced all of us volunteers and as soon as she told them that we have diabetes too, their eyes widened and their smiles sprawled across their faces. This was definitely an experience that I will never forget. The rest of the day was continuing preparation for our outreach programs.

August 1: We continued preparation for our outreach programs and got all of our materials ready for the next three days.

August 2: This was our first outreach trip in our journey, so we were all feeling a little nervous but also very excited to see what the outreach would entail. We went to Bonao, a city right in the center of the country about 2 hours away from the capital Santo Domingo. We began the day with our outreach program, which was very different from what we were expecting. We had been preparing the past few days in three different sections - insulin/medication, nutrition, and exercise - but when we began going through our exercises, we realized that most of the participants did not have a lot of the basic knowledge that we thought everybody knew. Most of us did not get to do most of our activities because our audience could not understand them, and we as volunteers felt very bad about this. We wished we had made the activities more friendly for people with lower education levels, which we did work on after we got back to Santo Domingo. However, in Bonao, we did meet three incredible people who have been affected by diabetes. The first was a 17 year old girl named Daniellese; she was diagnosed with type one diabetes when she was 14. However, she is surrounded by an unsupportive family, including an abusive father and a sister who committed suicide, and is unable to cope with it all mentally. She is struggling herself with depression and kidney problems and has even tried to give herself too much insulin in the hopes of killing herself. But the fact that she came to the clinic to see us and get help shows a lot of promise, and we connected her to the local organization Aprendiendo a Vivir (AAV) and they will hopefully help her improve her quality of life. The second boy we met was an 18 year old boy from Bonao who was also diagnosed with type one diabetes when he was 14. He has severe diabetes burnout - he only gives himself one shot of insulin for a whole day and doesn't check his blood sugar. When he came into the clinic in the morning, his blood glucose was over 500 mg/dL (normal range is 70-180). Our doctors gave him some insulin immediately and continued to educate him and his mom throughout the outreach session about the importance of managing type one diabetes well. After the program ended, the volunteers from the United States stayed with him in our room in the clinic, and we taught him how to mix his two types of insulin so that he can take less shots a day and how to check his blood glucose by himself. He has a severe phobia of needles and had never checked his own blood glucose before that day. We of course helped him, but it was a huge step for him and his mother. Tía Sandra continued to work her magic, and she was able to brighten up his spirits and showed him that diabetes did not have to be a bad thing. She gave him a little toy car and told him that it represents his life, and she asked him "Who's driving it?" She told him that he is, and a wide smile spread across his and his mom's face. Tía Sandra also connected him with Eurys, a 20 year old from Bonao who has had diabetes for a while and now volunteers with AAV, and told the boy that if he ever needs anything that he can go to Eurys, and that he can be a godfather figure for him. It was incredible to see the magic that AAV works everyday, connecting people who are in diabetes burnout to people who are thriving with the condition but still come from the same background. Lastly, we visited the house of a kid with diabetes living in Bonao who Tía Sandra has helped over the years. The story of his mom, however, is incredible. She ran away from her abusive husband with her three little kids and found a run down neighborhood with very few resources but a very strong community. She built her own home from scratch, and for the longest time had no water, food, or electricity. When we went to visit them, we brought nonperishable items for her and her kids so that they have some food in the house. Her son is able to manage his diabetes well and can check his own blood glucose and give himself his own insulin. AAV had so much impact on this family in the way that they are able to live their lives, and I believe that it was critical that we saw that to understand what the conditions are like for many of these families.

August 3: Today we went to San Cristóbal, where we will be returning for another outreach trip next week. As we were driving in, we saw two little boys blasting music on their tiny radio and dancing their hearts out. This lifted all of our spirits, as we all danced alongside of them, and showed us that there is so much love and joy in this community. We then began our outreach education. There were roughly twenty people who showed up, one of whom was an elderly man with type two diabetes, Alzheimer's, and was blind. Because we had this many people show up, we were able to split the group into our nutrition and medication modules. For the end, we all came together and danced as a part of the exercise module, and during this part, at least a hundred people from around the community came and joined in to dance. Seeing this happiness in the community was something so special to see.

August 4: Our outreach trip for the day was cancelled due to scheduling errors, so instead of traveling to Baní, we visited the foundation of Aprendiendo a Vivir in Santo Domingo. It was incredible seeing all of their memories over the years and seeing how far they have progressed. Later we went to Zona Colonial - the most historic site of Santo Domingo. We had a tour of the most famous sites where Christopher Columbus was hundreds of years ago. It was very cool to see the differences in Zona Colonial versus the city, because what is there in Zona Colonial is still very preserved and authentic.

August 5: Today was our first free day after a week of hard work. We went to Boca Chica - a beach about 45 minutes from Santo Domingo - and spent the day there.

August 6: Because it was Sunday morning, a lot of the local Dominicans were spending time with their families. So, the American volunteers went to Los Tres Ojos - a national park near Santo Domingo. It was absolutely beautiful! The rest of the day comprised of regrouping and reworking our activities for the rest of our outreach programs.

August 7: Our third outreach was to a small community in Boca Chica. We followed the same schedule that we used in our last outreach to San Cristóbal. The group was split up after registration to the Nutrition and Insulin/Medication sessions and then switched after a short snack and stretch break. We finally ended with our Exercise module, but found that by the end many people began to leave because they had to get back home and make lunch. We had to cut Exercise short before too many people could leave, but it was still a very good day. All of the groups could see looks of understanding and approval from the participants, who were very excited to be there and willing to participate in all of the activities. A few of them didn't even have diabetes -- they were just there to learn more about ways that they can live healthier lives!

August 8: Our fourth outreach trip was to a different community in San Cristóbal. The only room we were given inside the clinic was too small for both of our groups to be there at the same time, so we had the Nutrition group indoors presenting and the Insulin/edication group presenting outdoors in a gazebo. It was a little bit more difficult to keep our audience involved throughout the day, but it was a good experience to find the fine balance between exerting our dominicance as teachers and making sure that the participants learn. However, there were quite a few people who were really interested in learning and they chimed in a lot to our conversation! The group of people that we met today were all loving and happy, and you could see that on their faces when they all came together and danced at theh end. It was another very successful day!

August 9: Today we went to San Pedro for our final outreach trip. We set up in a parking lot of the local hospital in San Pedro, and had a great turnout, including one woman who was 109 years old! As a part of the Nutrition group, it was incredible to see how their points of view about food changed by the end of our session. We all begin by stating our favorite foods, and when I said my favorite food was tostones (fried and smashed plantains), they were all shocked that I was able to eat carbohydrates. By the end, they were all a lot happier and had a much better perception about food. We kept telling them that they can eat everything, just in the correct portions and amounts. Even in the Insulin/Medication group, one of the participants told the AYUDA volunteers that they were told that they can't laugh because it will raise their blood glucose, which ironically was responded by a round of laughter. Our volunteers then explained that that statement was indeed a myth, and we all realized how important the education that we were doing was to these communities. Had she not asked that question, she would have gone the rest of her life without laughing because she was worried about hyperglycemia. After this outreach, we stopped by the Juan Dolio beach on our way back to Santo Domingo, and spent the afternoon there.

August 10: After finishing all of our outreach trips, we enjoyed a nice trip back to Juan Dolio beach and spent the day there!

August 11: Today was our last work day, so it was bittersweet for all of us volunteers. After going souvenir shopping in the morning, we returned to our hotel in the afternoon and debriefed about things that went well and things that didn't go so well that we can improve on for next year. After the American volunteers finished our debrief, many of the local Dominican leaders joined us and we all talked about ways that we can improve for next year. We also talked about ways that we can remain involved with AYUDA and Aprendiendo a Vivir in the following years. We then went to one final group dinner and spent the rest of the night packing with each other.

August 12: All of the American volunteers flew back to their homes in the states and the Dominican volunteers returned to their own homes in Santo Domingo. We all told each other, "No es 'Adios' pero 'Hasta luego'" (It's not "goodbye," but "see you later").

A special thank you again to all whom supported me in my journey to the Dominican Republic! It was an experience like none other, and I have formed special bonds and connections with not only American volunteers but also Dominican local leaders. AYUDA and Aprendiendo a Vivir are both very special and unique programs, and I hope to stay involved with them both in the years to come!

¡Juntos Somos Más Fuertes! Together We Are Stronger!

-- Nikhita Gopisetty, En El Camino Volunteer, 2017

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The Beginning of a Passion

I was diagnosed with Type One Diabetes 10 years ago when I was 5 years old and, coming from a small town, never came to the realization that there were others like me. It wasn’t until high school that I realized the potential that I have in helping my diabetes community. After taking part in local diabetes events, I decided to look for a way to get in touch with my diabetes community abroad. I did a quick Google search - “diabetes service trips abroad” - and AYUDA was the top result.

As I learned more about AYUDA, I realized that helping people, especially with diabetes, is one of my biggest passions and that there was no way i could pass up on that opportunity. As a 15 year old, I decided that I would wait a year until I was 16 (AYUDA’s minimum age requirement), but still showed my interest by providing them with my contact information.

They reached out to me and I was told that I was able to participate this summer at 15, and I was ecstatic! I immediately got started on the application process.

In February, I attended AYUDA’s Volunteer Training Program Summit, where I met local Dominicans who I will be working with this summer along with my fellow volunteers. Everybody in the program is so passionate and driven about helping others, and this truly inspired me. I was nervous about being the youngest in the program because I thought I wouldn’t have as much experience as the others, but the Summit made me feel as a part of the AYUDA family. It showed me what AYUDA is all about and validated that this is something that I want to be doing.

I will be participating in AYUDA’s “En El Camino” program, in which I will travel around the Dominican Republic with my fellow volunteers and visit hospitals and homes. We will teach Dominicans with diabetes the ways that they can improve their well-beings without the same access to medicines that we have in the United States.

I love to learn about other cultures, and I am so excited to hear the stories that the Dominicans have about living with diabetes. Already after listening to some of their stories during the Summit, I feel so inspired and ready to go! I am thrilled to play a part in the incredible work that AYUDA does every summer!

-- Nikhita Gopisetty, AYUDA En El Camino 2017 Volunteer

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VTP Summit Blog

Being a part of AYUDA has expanded my diabetes community and has become like a second family to me. AYUDA has given me a global network of others who are passionate about diabetes education and helping others who live with Type 1. I recently attended AYUDA’s VTP Summit in Washington DC, where others involved with AYUDA gathered together for training and collaboration. Attending the Summit was like going to a family reunion and I was so excited to see AYUDA friends that I haven’t seen for a while and meet new friends that I will be working with this summer. It was such a great experience to share ideas and learn new information that will help us as we travel to bring diabetes education to those living with Type 1 in the Dominican Republic. I can’t wait to put into action all that I learned in DC!

Last year, I went on the most memorable trip of my life. I was able to spend three weeks in the Dominican Republic with AYUDA and Aprendiendo A Vivir. I fell in love with the children at camp and the community. I have never seen so many smiling and appreciative faces than when I was at the diabetes camps, Campo Amigo and Dia de la Familia. While it’s impossible to pick my favorite memory from the trip, one of the many stories that I will never forget is with a little girl in green group. She didn’t have Type 1 Diabetes herself, but her younger sister did. It was so heart-warming when she asked me if she could check her blood sugar so she could see what her sister has to go through everyday. I was able to see how I was making a real impact in the lives of others. But in truth, the people in the Dominican Republic made an even bigger an impact in my life. I have had Type 1 Diabetes myself for almost six years. I never gave much thought on how others in underserved areas live with a relentless chronic-condition. I have been blessed to be given access to all the latest medical technology, but it is heartbreaking to realize that diabetes education and other supplies are not readily available everywhere in the world. Thinking about all the challenges and struggles others around the world face often times makes me feel helpless, but AYUDA has allowed me to make a difference and I know that I am truly making an impact. I am excited to say I am going back to the DR this summer to continue AYUDA’s work and will be taking on more responsibility as a Volunteer Mentor in Training.

-- Emma Zgonc, AYUDA Campo Amigo Dominicano Volunteer, 2016 & Volunteer Mentor-in-Training, 2017

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Ready for Another Great Campo Amigo!

           From the minute my plane from the Dominican Republic landed in the U.S. at the end of last year’s Campo Amigo program, I knew I had to go back.  I was only in the DR for three weeks in the summer of 2016, but I was able to have life changing experiences and meet amazing people in that short amount of time.  Due to my past experience with AYUDA, this year, I was chosen to be a Volunteer Mentor in Training for the Campo Amigo program.  This position means that I will be able to help guide the new volunteers through the process of reaching their fundraising goals, preparing them for the program, and helping them navigate everything in-country.

            Two weeks ago was AYUDA’s annual Volunteer Training Program Summit in Washington D.C. where all of the volunteers for this year’s programs are able to meet in person for the first time, and get an introduction to the programs, Dominican culture, and life with diabetes.  It was rewarding to be on the so-called “other side” of things – being able to answer all of the new volunteers’ questions – as I still remember last year when I was in their shoes!

             On the second day of the summit, after we finished all of our training presentations, all of the volunteers went on a (freezing) tour of the national monuments.  This was a great opportunity to get to know everyone better and to bond before we see each other again in the Dominican Republic.  From this one weekend, I can already tell that we have another group of amazing volunteers who are ready to make a difference in the world and the diabetes community.  I can’t wait to see everyone again in just a few short months!

~ Arianna, AYUDA Campo Amigo Dominicano Volunteer, 2016 & Volunteer Mentor-in-Training, 2017

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The Warmest Welcome

                When I discovered AYUDA through a close friend and past participant, I was immediately captured by such a unique concept: Youth to youth communication. My past volunteer work had consisted of aiding in art and artistic production camps for those younger. I had already clearly seen the success of such a concept. I was able to witness their acute interest grow when it seemed someone just like them could be so knowledgeable.

                Yet AYUDA offers something different, something more. It offers a chance to make a larger change. I couldn’t believe the concept of an in-country visit for someone of my age. It seemed so big, on another level. And I’ve realized AYUDA is. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to volunteer!

                Was I nervous about the idea of traveling with mere acquaintances across the world? Of course I was, but all fear was drowned out by the opportunity I was being given. I couldn’t imagine how such a personal experience could affect and inspire me. The idea of personally being able to witness the change I would be making was captivating.

                Attending AYUDA’s summit was endlessly necessary. As an interested volunteer, but not a volunteer with diabetes, I had much to learn. Perhaps the most important concept I learned though, was diabetes is a lifestyle. While I was taught the science behind and medical importance, I was informed of so much more.

                Bonding with the other volunteers was perhaps the simplest part of the Summit. I was overjoyed to find myself surrounded by such passionate, driven, intellectual others. The welcome of both my fellow volunteers and the representatives of Aprendiendo a Vivir, AYUDA’s partner organization from the Dominican Republic, was nothing but warm and joyful.

                The Summit showed me not only are we crossing cultures, but we are attending to a place that needs this assistance. We are bringing necessary information to those without it because living a healthy lifestyle is of great importance: A lack of information can do just as much damage as a lack of tools.

                I had everything to learn and nothing was left from discussion. From fundraising to shot placement, we discussed what AYUDA stands for and I realized such an experience is not only going to aid one group. Bringing information in a creative way is going to help children that needs it. Going in-country, witnessing and interacting with those of a different culture, learning to communicate in a whole new way, is going to change me for the better.

-- Isabella Hartley, AYUDA Campo Amigo Dominicano Volunteer, 2017

[ayudainc]

Thank you AYUDA!

Right now, I am sitting in my childhood home in Tucson, Arizona. My day will primarily consist of studying for the MCAT, and this reinforces the fact that I am back in the real world. Still, I can’t help but reminisce about the three weeks at the end of June and beginning of July that made an everlasting impact on my life. 

On June 18th, 2016, I hopped on a plane at the Tucson Airport and I could barely contain my excitement. Before the day was out, I would be in a completely different environment, surrounded by the beauty of the Caribbean and a culture I had never experienced before. After a full day of traveling, I finally arrived in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic (DR), and my fellow AYUDA volunteers were there to greet me (even though it was nearly 3am!) and escort me back to our hotel.

After catching up on some much needed sleep, I met up with all of the AYUDA volunteers the next morning, and we all went with the Dominican volunteers from Aprendiendo a Vivir (AAV) to the Mercado. At the Mercado, or market, there were about a hundred different tiny stores selling every souvenir you could possibly imagine. Some of the store owners had learned a bit of English, in hopes of attracting tourists to their shop to sell them a keychain or piece of handmade jewelry (“Señorita! Only one dollar!”). As we were about to leave the Mercado, two gentlemen playing Bachata music invited us to dance with them! This was my first introduction to the friendly, fun-loving Dominican culture. By the end of the first day, I was exhausted from walking around Santo Domingo in the humid heat, but I was invigorated by what I had experienced that day, and I was glad about how quickly my fellow volunteers and I were bonding.

The next few days, we learned the camp protocol for checking blood glucose, administering insulin, and treating hypoglycemias. I was already familiar with all of these practices since I have diabetes, but it was interesting to see how the cultural differences between the US and DR influenced the protocol. For instance, in the case of an extremely low blood sugar that won’t go up, we are taught to administer a glucagon shot in the US; however, glucagon is not easy to come by in the DR, so instead we were told to administer honey. 

Most of this first week was geared towards preparing for our first big event: Dia de la Familia, in which children with diabetes, their parents, and their siblings all come for a one-day camp to learn more about diabetes. I was assigned to Grupo Amarillo (Yellow Group), where all of the campers are aged 13 and up. Our planning for Dia de la Familia therefore had to consist of activities suited towards teenagers that would keep their attention (not a simple feat!), while still teaching them about diabetes. Since the campers at this age mostly all knew about the basics of diabetes (checking their own blood sugar, administering their own insulin), we focused on teaching them about carbohydrates and nutrition through fun games like jeopardy. We also wanted to include the parents and siblings for this camp, so we had a reflection activity in which anyone could ask a question about diabetes, the counselors would answer, and then we all would discuss the importance of the answer. Dia de la Familia was an amazing introduction to the world of camp, and great preparation for the next week’s two-day camp, Campo Amigo.

We kicked off the second week with a visit to a local hospital, where we were able to see the organized chaos that is a Dominican hospital. Though the sights we saw in the hospital may be considered as disorderly in the US, none of the hundreds of patients crowded in the hallways waiting to be seen, or for their children to be seen, were distressed or upset.  Rather, these people were calm and seemed happy to be able to meet with a doctor, even if they would have to wait hours. Many of these people had come a great distance to Santo Domingo from neighboring provinces just to visit the hospital. Seeing how happy they were to receive this care humbled me, as easy access to healthcare is something we often take for granted in the US.

In the second week, we also traveled outside of Santo Domingo to two neighboring provinces, San Pedro de Marcoris and San Cristóbal. We visited the homes of a few young people with diabetes who were actually some of my campers later that week at Campo Amigo. These individuals had little access to test strips, and as a result, they could not check their blood sugar very often, so it often ran high and caused them being in diabetic ketoacidocis, and even falling into diabetic comas. To me, visiting the homes of some of my campers was essential to our planning of the activities for Campo Amigo, as they helped us understand what the campers have access to, what they don’t have access to, and what we can do to help them maintain their health in these conditions.

We spent the rest of the week planning for Campo Amigo, our two-day camp that focuses on the campers, rather than the entire family like Dia de la Familia. We kicked off the weekend teaching the campers about the importance of exercise in managing diabetes by playing fun outdoor games like Banderita (Dominican capture-the-flag), and stressing that you can be active if you have diabetes. The counselors then gave a brief lesson on the “Perfect Plate,” explaining portion sizes of different food groups that comprise a healthy meal. Our Yellow Group campers took their new knowledge of the Perfect Plate and taught it to the youngest campers, Green Group. The last day of Campo Amigo, we focused on self-reflection. My favorite activity of the weekend was when all the campers talked about why they thought diabetes held them back, and their fears about diabetes. They wrote these fears on a poster with the phrase “Juntos Somos Más Fuertes” (Together We Are Stronger), and they covered their fears with their paint handprints in an effort to symbolize that their fears don’t rule them, and that we all work together to overcome our fears.

After camp, we had a few days to relax and visit the beautiful beaches of Santo Domingo, as well as bond with our fellow volunteers before I finally had to say goodbye to my new family and board a plane back to Arizona.

I am not being hyperbolic when I say that AYUDA changed my life, the relationships I made, experiences I had, and things I witnessed will stay with me forever and influence how I navigate the world. Thank you to my fellow AYUDA volunteers and staff members for giving me this amazing experience. I cannot wait to go back to Campo Amigo next year, and make even more everlasting memories! If you would like to see  photos of my time with AYUDA, please check out my album here: https://flic.kr/s/aHskED7Lqm .

Gracias,

Arianna

[ayudainc]

A Global Connection

I have lived with Type 1 diabetes for almost five years and from day one, was blessed to immediately be welcomed into a community of others who understand my struggles and the ups and downs each day brings.  It was exactly this type of community that attracted me to AYUDA.  I didn’t want to limit my network to just a local community, as I realize that Type 1 diabetes is a global issue. I was eager to join this global community of other people living with diabetes, but also those who carry a passion to help and encourage others with Type 1.

I recently attended the three-day Volunteer Training Program Summit in Washington DC for AYUDA.  I didn’t know what to expect when I arrived and was more than a little nervous.  I was immediately put at ease, as I was given a warm welcome and greeted like I was family, even though it was the first time we ever met each other.  We spent the weekend learning more about diabetes care in other parts of the world, as well as what we will encounter on our trip.  I met the local leaders in the Dominican Republic who are part of Aprendiendo a Vivir, the in-country partner organization.  It was quickly obvious that they are equally as passionate as I am about AYUDA and its mission of empowering local youth to be agents of change in the diabetes community. My biggest fear was communication when I arrive in the DR, but my fears were quickly put to rest, as AYUDA provides all the tools needed to communicate and develop relationships.

The greatest thing I got out of the training weekend was meeting the people I would soon be spending three weeks with and knowing that these relationships would last a lifetime.  I am so excited about being in the Dominican Republic and learning from others there.  I now understand that even if others have a different diabetes journey than mine, they can still live a happy and healthy life and I am so privileged to be a part of this global community. I can’t wait to start my journey this summer!  

Emma Zgonc is a 2016 volunteer with the Campo Amigo Program.  To learn more about her, click here. 

[ayudainc]

Flying During Finals

The weekend before finals, most people are shut up in the library, surrounded by piles of textbooks, scattered papers, and notes highlighted in every possible color you can imagine.  Most people are worried about cramming everything they haven’t learned that quarter into their heads at the last possible minute, so they can emerge victorious from those treacherous three hours in the exam room.  Usually, I am most people.  However, the weekend before finals this past quarter I was not locked inside the library.  I was on a plane that was taking me to the other side of the country.  Was I worried about flying from San Diego to Washington DC for three days immediately before finals?  Definitely.  The reason I decided to do it anyway was to attend the AYUDA VTP Summit for a weekend that turned out to completely change my life.

Rewind two months to mid-January as I was preparing my chapter of the College Diabetes Network to host an AYUDA information session.  Honestly, I didn’t really know what AYUDA was at this point, but I knew it was related to diabetes, so I figured that it would be a good event for my chapter of CDN to plan.  After the presentation, I got an email from Stephanie, AYUDA’s Director of Volunteers, encouraging me to apply to the program.  At that point, I was quite interested in traveling to the Dominican Republic and making a difference in their diabetes community, so I decided to apply to the Campo Amigo program.  When I was accepted, I was overjoyed at the opportunity I now had in front of me, but I couldn’t help thinking of how horrible the timing of the Summit was for me.  Stephanie told me it wasn’t mandatory for me to attend, but she strongly encouraged me to go.  In the end, I realized that I could not miss this opportunity to learn more about AYUDA and meet my fellow volunteers before the trip, so I bought my plane tickets to DC.

I could not have made a better choice in choosing to attend the VTP Summit.  The experience of meeting the other volunteers, directors and partners of AYUDA, and the Dominicans from Aprendiendo a Vivir was an invaluable asset to my fundraising strategies and my preparedness for the volunteer trip.  The Summit has made me even more excited for the trip and passionate about the cause, which I believe will help me in this time before the trip as I continue to fundraise.

Arianna Tuomey is a 2016 volunteer with the Campo Amigo Program.  To learn more about her, click here.